Town Talk

May 19, 1995

REGION

Exhibit reunites World War II pilots

One World War II pilot thanked another - 50 years later. Bill Johns, who flew B-24 bombers over Germany and Italy, recently saw that an exhibit had been set up at the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale to honor the Tuskegee Airmen.

That is a group of nearly 1,000 aviators who became the first black combat pilots. It also is the group of fighter pilots who provided aerial protection to Johns and other bomber pilots.

Johns, of Fort Lauderdale, had to meet Leo Gray of Hollywood, one of the Tuskeegee Airmen who flew P-51s, to thank him and talk about old times.

"We had a good discussion and plan to get together again," Gray said. "We don't get to come across many people we escorted. So it's nice to know that he knew we were there - to help save their hides."

Auction to feature art and antiques

Interested in adding antiques and art objects to your collection? Then plan to attend the black-tie-optional auction of more than 150 items acquired from a major estate at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at Ciro's Restaurant, 100 S. Federal Highway, Hallandale.

The auction, the first major fund-raising activity for the 7-month-old Hallandale Kiwanis Club, promises to be a "sophisticated night out," auction chairwoman Barbra Borriello says.

Items going on the auction block include a Tiffany-style stained glass and bronze designer lamp, a Remington-signed bronze sculpture of a bronco buster on a marble base and a French-style Bombay nightstand with inlaid marble top.

Items may be viewed between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. on the day of the auction. Admission is $25 a person. Proceeds will benefit the club's projects, including the Kare-A-Van, a tractor-trailer used as a mobile doctor's office; "Shots for Tots''; the Every Child a Swimmer program; and the Reading is Fundamental program. For more information, call Borriello at 454-4558.

Polite driver flees scene of accident

The woman who hit Michelle Yerks' Volkswagen was polite, but fled from the accident scene.

Yerks, nine months pregnant with her first child, was hit from behind by a black Honda as she traveled south on 28th Avenue near Polk Street in Hollywood about 10 p.m. on May 11. Both Yerks and the driver of the other car got out of their vehicles. Neither was hurt.

The Honda driver apologized, then got into her car and drove away, Yerks said. Her 1971 olive-green VW Beetle sustained major rear-end and mechanical damage, she said.

Anyone with information about the accident is urged to call the Hollywood police at 967-4357.